L.A. real estate news and insights.
Here is a little good news for the holiday season.
Economic news spelled better news for home buyers who are shopping for a mortgage, even after the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike.
Mortgage rates continued to dial back as new economic data shows inflation cooling off. Freddie Mac reported last Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.31%. Rates have been decreasing ever since hitting a high of 7.08% last month.
Best fixer-upper to sell this week in Pasadena!
Asking price: $795,000
Selling price: $890,000
This Craftsman Bungalow has 3 bed/2 bath, 1,176 sq. ft. of living space, and is on a 9,361 sq. ft. lot.
The home located in the Bungalow Heaven District features a front-gabled, brick-walled porch across most of the front of the home.
Since the home is in such bad shape, the property would not qualify for a loan.
Would you take on a project this big?
"Hot Home” alert in Porter Ranch’s Westcliffe gated community.
Asking price: $2,999,950
This 3 story home has 4 bed/6 bath, 5,314 sq. ft. of living space, and is on a 9,904 sq. ft. lot.
The home features a large great room with high ceilings, a kitchen with a walk-in pantry, a home theater with an open-air deck, and an office with glass walls.
In the backyard, there is a pool with a swim-up bar, rain shower, spa, firepit, outdoor kitchen with BBQ, and basketball court with Kobe Bryant's brand logo.
Text me if you want a tour at 818-445-7953.
Rising inflation is pressing on Americans across the economic spectrum with costs for groceries to gasoline increasing. In November, consumer prices increased by 6.8% compared to a year ago, the largest annual gain in the past 40 years.
Some of the highest increases occurred for energy, shelter, cars, and food, which comprise about 61% of consumer purchases and account for 81% of inflation over the past 12 months, MarketWatch reports.
Renters may be feeling the impact. Rents are up 3% and accelerating at about 5% annually, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Also, heating bills are increasing; natural gas prices have jumped by 25%.
Yun also warns that the increase in inflation is a primary reason that mortgage rates will likely rise in 2022. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is predicted to reach 3.7% by the end of 2022. Rates averaged 3.10% last week, according to Freddie Mac.
“One aspect of inflation is that real estate has proven to be a good hedge,” Yun says.
As he explains in a recent statement:
“In the 1970s, a high inflationary period when [the Consumer Price Index] averaged 7.1% per year, home price gains outpaced inflation with a 9.9% gain. Even when interest rates soared in the 1980s and thereby crushed home sales, home prices still held up to consumer price inflation: 5.5% versus 5.6%. That’s because rents are soaring. Other decades also show similar patterns. Therefore, for those concerned about the loss in purchasing power of money and savings, be assured that real estate has proven to be a good hedge against inflation.”
Source: “Instant Reaction: Consumer Price Index, December 10, 2021,” National Association of REALTORS® Economists’ Outlook blog and “Inflation Is Running Rampant in the U.S.—Here’s Where It Is, and Isn’t,” MarketWatch (Dec. 11, 2021).
Here's an update on 2 "Hot Homes" I recently told you about.
Hot Home #1: Vestal Ave., Los Angeles
Asking price: $2,349,000
Sold price: $2,400,000
Hot Home #2: Acorn St., Chatsworth
Asking price: $1,399,000
Sold price: $1,500,000
Here is the longest active home on the market in the Hollywood Hills... 239 days!
Current asking price: $6,395,000
Original asking price: $6,750,000
The main home and 2 story guest house have a total of 6 bed/8 bath, 7,202 sq. ft. of living space, & is on a 29,927 sq. ft. lot.
The property is at the end of a cul-de-sac, has a courtyard with a fountain, and amazing jetliner views.
There are multiple seating areas, fruit trees, a sports court, and an Ozone infinity pool with a spa on the private grounds.
Text me if you want a tour at 818-445-7953.
CLICK HERE to see my episode of "House Hunters Renovation"!
“Hot Home” alert in Sierra Madre.
Asking price: $1,198,000
This fixer-upper has 3 bed/2 bath, 1,794 sq. ft. of living space, and is on a 10,439 sq. ft. lot.
The home features original hardwood floors, a stone fireplace, laundry room, attached garage, stone driveway, solar panels, and central AC.
The backyard has a covered patio, wood decking, and a fenced-off pool.
Text me if you want a tour at 818-445-7953.
Housing affordability in the third quarter improved slightly from the prior quarter as mortgage rates remained low while prices began to level off.
24% percent of California households could afford to purchase the $814,580 median-priced home in the third quarter of 2021, up from 23% in second-quarter 2021 but down from 28% in third-quarter 2020.
A minimum annual income of $148,400 was needed to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced home in the latest quarter in the state.
With interest rates expected to rise and the state median price projected to climb further in 2022, the housing affordability condition will likely get worse in the coming year.
Source: California Association of Realtors.
Text me if you want a tour at 818-445-7953.
“Hot Home” alert in Studio City.
Asking price: $1,999,000
Mid Century Modern home - 4 bed/3 bath, 2,247 sq. ft. of living space, on a 7,996 sq. ft. lot.
The home features endless views from the 2 decks on the main floor and the private decks off every bedroom.
There are also high-end security doors, a camera system with an alarm, and low maintenance garden outdoors.
Text me if you want a tour at 818-445-7953.
“Hot Home” alert in Lake Balboa.
Asking price: $1,075,000
The main house and ADU have a combined 5 bed/3 bath, 2,338 sq. ft. of living space, and is on a 6,517 sq. ft. lot.
The home features an open floor plan, a laundry area in the bonus room, and an ADU that is ready to bring in rental income.
A majority of house hunters say it’s not prices that are keeping them out of the housing market—it’s other buyers. 45% of prospective buyers recently surveyed say they keep getting outbid by other offers, according to a new survey from the National Association of Home Builders. The NAHB says this is only the third time in the survey’s history that the top reason prospective buyers have been unsuccessful has not been due to finding a home at an affordable price.
In the third quarter, 66% of active home buyers say they’ve spent three months or more searching for a home without success.
Source: National Association of Home Builders’ Eye on Housing blog
How old were you when you first saw "A Nightmare on Elm Street"? I think I was 10.
Nancy’s house is for sale! Beware... you only have until midnight on Halloween to put an offer in!
Asking price: $3,250,000
This Dutch Colonial has 3 bed/3.5 bath, 2,700 sq. ft. of living space, and is on a 6,752 sq. ft. lot.
The expanded and renovated home features an open retro modern kitchen, office, ensuite bedrooms, and a detached guest house.
Freddy Krueger look-alike not included.
Only 58.9% of home offers faced competition in September, the lowest level for 2021 so far, according to a market index produced by Redfin based on offers written by its agents. That’s down from a peak of 74.3% in April. September also marked the fifth consecutive month of declines in bidding wars.
Still, homes are selling quickly: 86% of homes sold in September were on the market for less than a month, according to the National Association of REALTORS® latest housing report. About 33% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within just one week of being listed on the market.
45% of homes sold at or above list price, up from 22% in 2019.
Here's an update on 2 "Hot Homes" from earlier this year.
Hot Home #1: Hermosa Dr., San Gabriel
Asking price: $1,495,000
Sold price: $1,660,000
Hot Home #2: Rossmore Ave., Los Angeles
Asking price: $12,375,000
Sold price: $10,000,000
Actress Jane Levy just bought this 113-year-old home in the La Brea Terrace Community.
Asking price: $3,199,000
Selling price: $3,230,000
This California Craftsman home has 3 bed/3 bath, 2,343 sq. ft. of living space, and is on a 14,607 sq. ft. lot.
The home features a main house that has 2bed/2bath and there is a vaulted post and beam 1bed/1bath guest house.
Did she get a good deal?
